IT is fitting that the Government should take the lead and announce a £2.7million funding package designed to encourage schools to take pupils out on trips to broaden their experience beyond that of the classroom.

This comes against a background of tragedies in recent years involving schoolchildren which has made many teachers reluctant to take pupils on school trips lest they be blamed and face legal action if an accident occurs.

Schools were, and still are in some ways, in danger of falling into the ever expanding health and safety trap which seems to preclude doing anything remotely regarded as risky.

As the Education Minister Alan Johnson said it was essential for some children to be taken out of their environment to experience something other than their own backgrounds, one set of pupils in Bolton was already set to do that.

Pupils at Lever Park secondary school successfully applied for a £2,380 grant from the Michael Williams Trust, which will be used to take children out on stimulating activities including rock climbing and other adventure pursuits which will help them develop team work in challenging circumstances.

Teachers, parents and pupils should be allowed freedom to use their common sense to arrange such trips and activities they believe aid the development of children without compromising their safety.